La Cusinga Lodge is a family-run lodge on a forested hillside south of Uvita, inside a private reserve that runs down to the edge of Marino Ballena National Park. Its rooms look out over Bahía Ballena, and trails from the lodge lead through the forest to a natural swimming hole and to Playa Arco, a small cove inside the park. Stay here if you want to walk out of your room into protected forest rather than drive to it.
At a glance
| Location | Hills above Bahía Ballena, 5 km south of the Uvita bridge, Osa canton |
|---|---|
| Style | Ocean-view rooms and suites in buildings made of wood grown on the property |
| Setting | Private reserve of about 242 hectares of primary and secondary forest bordering Marino Ballena National Park |
| Best for | Walkers, birders and yoga groups who want forest and whale-season views from the room |
| Getting there | By road on the coastal highway; the lodge sits just south of Uvita |
| CST status | Not in the official CST directory on 2026-Oct-21 |
Where it is
The lodge gives its address as 5 km south of the Uvita bridge, in Bahía Ballena, in the Osa canton of Puntarenas. That puts it on the stretch of Costa Ballena where the coastal highway runs between the mountains and a string of beaches protected by Marino Ballena National Park.
SINAC describes that park as Costa Rica’s first protected area created purely for its marine resources. It covers 5,160 hectares of sea and 171 hectares of land along 15 km of coast from the mouth of the Río Morete to Punta Piñuela. Its land side includes the beaches of Uvita, Colonia, Arco, Ballena and Piñuela, and offshore lie Isla Ballena, the Tres Hermanas rocks and the famous sandbar shaped like a whale’s tail at Punta Uvita, which can be walked only around low tide. Local residents and small-scale fishermen pushed for the park because commercial shrimp boats were damaging their nets and fishing grounds; it was first decreed in 1989 and legally confirmed in 1992.
A family reserve since the 1990s
The lodge’s History page says the Tresemer-Guzmán family has lived in Uvita since 1972 and opened La Cusinga Eco Lodge in 1995. It credits two founders: John, a sociologist interested in sustainability, and Bella, whom the page describes as rooted in Costa Rican values and community. Their idea, in the page’s words, was hospitality that “worked with nature, not against it.”
The family’s land is the real draw. The lodge’s sustainability page says it protects 242 hectares of forest as a private reserve that works as a biological corridor, and the history page describes “hundreds of acres of protected primary and secondary forest” bordering the national park. Reforestation on the farm began in 1990, according to the lodge, and most of the wood in its buildings comes from those replanted trees.
Rooms
The Accommodations page lists six room types, and the lodge says it has more than ten units in all:
- Ocean View Deluxe Suite: two double beds, a living room and a balcony facing the sea.
- Ocean View Deluxe Room: two doubles or one king, with a balcony over ocean and forest.
- Deluxe King: a king bed, living room, balcony and access to a terrace.
- Ocean View Family Room: two doubles and a living room, aimed at families and small groups.
- Ocean View Standard Room: one double bed, a living room and a sea-view balcony.
- Ocean View Superior Room: two doubles with a balcony or terrace.
Every room has a private bathroom with solar-heated water, and breakfast comes with every room. The site doesn’t mention air conditioning in any room, so if that matters to you, ask before booking. It also doesn’t describe the terrain between rooms, the restaurant and the trails. Hillside lodges on this coast usually involve slopes and steps, so travelers with limited mobility should check the layout with the lodge.
Trails, swimming hole and the beach
The Experiences page is where the property earns its place on this site. Guests have direct access to a network of private trails through the reserve, and the lodge pitches itself as a birding destination in its own right. A short walk from the rooms leads to a jungle swimming hole on the reserve, and a slightly longer hike reaches Playa Arco, a secluded cove that sits inside Marino Ballena National Park. There’s also a swimming pool at the lodge. Guest reviews on the homepage mention howler monkeys calling at dawn and troops of monkeys around the natural pool.
For guided time in the forest, the lodge’s Tours page lists rainforest hikes in its own reserve. It also books day trips farther afield:
- Whale watching and snorkeling in Marino Ballena National Park.
- Day trips to Corcovado National Park and snorkeling at Caño Island.
- Boat and kayak trips in the Térraba-Sierpe mangroves.
- Horseback riding, a canopy tour and surf lessons on nearby breaks.
SINAC notes that humpback whales arrive in two seasons each year, one group from the southern hemisphere and one from the northern. That gives this coast a long whale season, though sightings are never guaranteed.
Yoga and spa
La Cusinga hosts group retreats in an open-air yoga studio that, according to the yoga page, overlooks the national park. A small holistic spa, Cinnamon Spa, offers treatments on site. If you’re traveling independently, ask whether a retreat group will be in residence during your dates, since it changes the feel of a small lodge.
Food
Meals are served at the Aracari Restaurant, an open-air dining room between the forest and the sea. The lodge says it cooks with local ingredients and buys from local producers; its photos show dishes ranging from a beef burger to vegetable curries, and the bar serves wine, cocktails and local drinks. Every booking includes the morning meal. The site doesn’t list which special diets the kitchen covers, so mention any needs when you book.
Sustainability and community
According to the lodge, its main practices are:
- Protecting 242 hectares of forest as a private reserve and biological corridor.
- Reforestation on the farm since 1990, with that timber used in construction.
- Solar water heating in the rooms.
- Waste separation, composting and cutting back on plastics.
- Buying from local producers.
- Running awareness programs for guests and for local schools and communities, and working with biologists and NGOs on endangered species.
These are the lodge’s own claims. La Cusinga doesn’t appear in the official CST directory, so no outside certifier has checked them under that program.
Who it suits
This is a good fit for travelers who care more about trails, birds and a view over a marine park than about resort facilities. Yoga groups and small retreats will like the open-air studio, and families can use the Family Room as a base for whale trips and beach days.
It’s less suited to anyone who wants a beach bar at the bottom of the stairs; the nearest beach is a hike away, and the lodge is a forest stay first. If you’d like to compare other stays on this coast, look at Mar y Selva near Playa Ballena or the Tamandúa Biological Station at La Bijagua, and browse our South Pacific eco-lodges. Our whale watching and dolphin tours guide explains the seasons in more detail.
Frequently asked questions
Can you walk from La Cusinga to the beach?
Yes. The lodge says a short hike from the property reaches Playa Arco, a secluded cove inside Marino Ballena National Park. It's a forest walk, not a stroll across a lawn, so wear proper shoes.
How big is the La Cusinga reserve?
The lodge says it protects 242 hectares of primary and secondary forest, which borders Marino Ballena National Park and acts as a biological corridor.
Is breakfast included at La Cusinga?
Yes. The lodge says every room comes with breakfast at the Aracari Restaurant. Other meals are available at the restaurant.
Does La Cusinga host yoga retreats?
Yes. It runs and hosts group retreats in an open-air yoga studio overlooking the national park, and individual guests can also book wellness stays.
